North Dakota Water Quality Report: 70 Water-System Violations Mapped to 199 ZIPs
273 water systems · 199 ZIP codes · 70 violations
Data: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS), EPA ECHO
ZipCheckup tracks EPA drinking-water compliance for 273 public water systems serving 199 ZIP codes in North Dakota. The state record shows 70 EPA violations, 2 health-based.
City Water Quality Map: North Dakota
Each circle represents a city. Size indicates population, color indicates water quality grade. Tap a circle for details.
Cities with Most Violations in North Dakota
| # | City | Grade | Violations | Systems | Population | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linton | 11 | 1 | 1,460 | Details → | |
| 2 | Grand Forks Afb | 10 | 3 | 2,072 | Details → | |
| 3 | Horace | 9 | 4 | 5,136 | Details → | |
| 4 | Williston | 2 | 3 | 33,969 | Details → | |
| 5 | Tioga | 2 | 2 | 2,064 | Details → | |
| 6 | Ray | 2 | 2 | 1,119 | Details → | |
| 7 | Epping | 2 | 2 | 799 | Details → | |
| 8 | Grenora | 2 | 1 | 555 | Details → | |
| 9 | Trenton | 2 | 1 | 395 | Details → | |
| 10 | Zahl | 2 | 1 | 213 | Details → |
Most Common Contaminants in North Dakota
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 30 | 24 | No |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 9 | 3 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 8 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 7 | 7 | No |
| Chloramine | Disinfectant | 5 | 2 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 5 | 5 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 4 | 2 | Yes |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 1 | 1 | No |
Water Quality Overview
North Dakota has 273 community water systems represented across 199 directly mapped ZIP records. The associated city records cover approximately 676,708 people. The available records contain 70 EPA violations, including 2 health-based violations.
Health-based violations account for 3% of all violations in North Dakota. These violations indicate contaminant levels that may pose direct risks to human health, as opposed to monitoring or reporting failures.
Violation Breakdown
| Violation Type | Count | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Health-based | 2 | 2.9% |
| Monitoring/Reporting | 68 | 97.1% |
| Total | 70 | 100% |
Health-based violations are MCL, MRDL (disinfectant) and treatment-technique violations. Monitoring violations indicate failures to test or report - these do not necessarily mean unsafe water, but they mean the water was not properly verified.
Cities with Most Violations
The following cities in North Dakota have the highest number of EPA violations:
| Rank | City | Violations | Water Systems | Population |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Linton | 11 | 1 | 1,460 |
| 2 | Grand Forks Afb | 10 | 3 | 2,072 |
| 3 | Horace | 9 | 4 | 5,136 |
| 4 | Williston | 2 | 3 | 33,969 |
| 5 | Tioga | 2 | 2 | 2,064 |
| 6 | Ray | 2 | 2 | 1,119 |
| 7 | Epping | 2 | 2 | 799 |
| 8 | Grenora | 2 | 1 | 555 |
| 9 | Trenton | 2 | 1 | 395 |
| 10 | Zahl | 2 | 1 | 213 |
Violation counts are cumulative across all water systems serving each city. Higher counts may reflect larger systems with more monitoring requirements, not necessarily worse water quality.
Violation Trend Over Time
Year-by-year EPA violations recorded across all water systems in North Dakota:
| Year | Health-based violations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Most Common Contaminants
The following contaminants have caused the most violations across North Dakota water systems:
| Contaminant | Category | Violations | ZIPs Affected | Health-Based |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lead and Copper Rule | Treatment Technique | 30 | 24 | No |
| Chlorine | Disinfectant | 9 | 3 | No |
| Total Trihalomethanes (TTHM) | Disinfection Byproducts | 8 | 8 | Yes |
| Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | Disinfection Byproducts | 7 | 7 | No |
| E. coli | Microbiological | 5 | 5 | No |
| Lead and Copper Rule Revisions | Treatment Technique | 4 | 2 | Yes |
| Public Notice Rule | Reporting | 1 | 1 | No |
How to Check Your Water in North Dakota
Enter your ZIP code on ZipCheckup for detailed water-system data including contaminant levels and violation history; the separate Home Safety Score is a multi-source index
Request your CCR - every water utility must provide an annual Consumer Confidence Report
Get a home test - certified kits ($20-$50) or professional lab tests ($150-$400)
Consider filtration - NSF-certified filters can address specific contaminants found in your area
EPA Enforcement
The EPA and state regulators have taken enforcement actions against water systems in North Dakota. Enforcement actions range from compliance assistance to formal orders and penalties.
Data Sources
- Water quality: EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System (SDWIS)
- Enforcement: EPA ECHO
Updated daily.
Understanding water quality grades
ZipCheckup grades water systems from A to F based on EPA violation history, contaminant levels, and system compliance. Grades summarize ZipCheckup's scoring inputs; review the underlying records for specific issues. Grades are calculated per ZIP code and aggregated at the city, county, and state level.
Wondering about your tap water?
Water quality varies by ZIP code. Enter yours to see contaminant data, violations, and filtration recommendations specific to your area.
Check Your ZIP Code Water Quality →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the tap water safe to drink in North Dakota?
Records for 273 community water systems mapped to ZIPs in North Dakota show 70 reported violations, including 2 health-based. Water quality varies by city and ZIP code - check your specific location for detailed results.
How many violations are on record for water systems serving North Dakota?
North Dakota has 70 EPA violations on record across 199 ZIP codes; 2 are classified as health-based violations. The remainder are monitoring or reporting violations.
Which city in North Dakota has the worst water quality?
Linton, ND has the most recorded EPA violations (11) among the cities with mapped water systems in North Dakota in our data. Check your water supplier's report and test your tap water for the most accurate picture of your local water quality.
Which city in North Dakota has the best water quality?
Violation records vary by water system across North Dakota. Check individual city reports for details.
What contaminants are found in North Dakota drinking water?
EPA regulates over 90 drinking-water contaminants nationally; water systems in North Dakota monitor those applicable to each system, which can include lead, copper, nitrate, disinfection byproducts, and bacteria. The most common violations vary by region - check your ZIP code for contaminant-specific data.